Calcium influx is not required for thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation of prolactin release from GH3 cells

TRH stimulation of prolactin release from GH3 cells is dependent on Ca2+; however, whether TRH-induced influx of extracellular Ca2+ is required for stimulated secretion remains controversial. We studied prolactin release from cells incubated in medium containing 110 mM K+ and 2 mM EGTA which abolished the electrical and Ca2+ concentration gradients that usually promote Ca2+ influx. TRH caused prolactin release and 45Ca2+ efflux from cells incubated under these conditions. In static incubations, TRH stimulated prolactin secretion from 11.4 +/- 1.2 to 19 +/- 1.8 ng/ml in control incubations and from 3.2 +/- 0.6 to 6.2 +/- 0.8 ng/ml from cells incubated in medium with 120 mM K+ and 2 mM EGTA. We conclude that Ca2+ influx is not required for TRH stimulation of prolactin release from GH3 cells.     

K+ transport properties of K+ channels in the plasma membrane of Vicia faba guard cells

Electrical properties of the plasma membrane of guard cell protoplasts isolated from stomates of Vicia faba leaves were studied by application of the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique. The two types of K+ currents that have recently been identified in guard cells may allow efflux of K+ during stomatal closing, and uptake of K+ during stomatal opening (Schroeder et al., 1987). A detailed characterization of ion transport properties of the inward-rectifying (IK+,in) and the outward-rectifying (IK+,out) K+ conductance is presented here. The permeability ratios of IK+,in and IK+,out currents for K+ over monovalent alkali metal ions were determined. The resulting permeability sequences (PK+ greater than PRb+ greater than PNa+ greater than PLi+ much greater than PCs+) corresponded closely to the ion specificity of guard cell movements in V. faba. Neither K+ currents exhibited significant inactivation when K+ channels were activated for prolonged periods (greater than 10 min). The absence of inactivation may permit long durations of K+ fluxes, which occur during guard cell movements. Activation potentials of inward K+ currents were not shifted when external K+ concentrations were changed. This differs strongly from the behavior of inward-rectifying K+ channels in animal tissue. Blue light and fusicoccin induce hyperpolarization by stimulation of an electrogenic pump. From slow-whole-cell recordings it was concluded that electrogenic pumps require cytoplasmic substrates for full activation and that the magnitude of the pump current is sufficient to drive K+ uptake through IK+,in channels. First, direct evidence was gained for the hypothesis that IK+,in channels are a molecular pathway for K+ accumulation by the finding that IK+,in was blocked by Al3+ ions, which are known to inhibit stomatal opening but not closing. The results presented in this study strongly support a prominent role for IK+,in and IK+,out channels in K+ transport across the plasma membrane of guard cells.     

Evidence that potassium channels regulate prolactin secretion in GH4C1 cells by causing extracellular calcium influx

Tetraethylammonium (TEA), a K+ channel blocker, induced prolactin (PRL) secretion in GH4C1 cells in a dose-dependent manner when applied at a concentration from 1-20 mM. During continuous exposure to TEA, a significant increase in PRL secretion occurred by 20 min and the response was sustained until the end of a 60-min exposure. Blocking Ca2+ influx by employing a Ca(2+)-depleted medium or the Ca2+ channel blocker, nifedipine, prevented induction of PRL secretion by 20 mM TEA. Preincubation of the cells for 10 min with 20 mM TEA did not inhibit PRL secretion induced by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA) or by cell swelling produced by 30% medium hyposmolarity, but significantly depressed that induced by depolarizing 30 mM K+. BaCl2, another K+ channel blocker, had the same effect on PRL secretion as TEA. The data suggest that blocking K+ channels may cause membrane depolarization, thereby inducing Ca2+ influx which is a potent stimulus for PRL secretion in GH4C1 cells.     

Mitogen-activated protein kinase activation by stimulation with thyrotropin-releasing hormone in rat pituitary GH3 cells.

We examined whether mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase is activated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in GH3 cells, and whether MAP kinase activation is involved in secretion of prolactin from these cells. Protein kinase inhibitors--such as PD098059, calphostin C, and genistein--and removal of extracellular Ca2+ inhibited MAP kinase activation by TRH. A cAMP analogue activated MAP kinase in these cells. Effects of cAMP on MAP kinase activation were inhibited by PD098059. TRH-induced prolactin secretion was not inhibited by levels of PD098059 sufficient to i activation but was inhibited by wortmannin (1 microM) and KN93. Treatment of GH3 cells with either TRH or cAMP significantly inhibited DNA synthesis and induced morphological changes. The effects stimulated by TRH were reversed by PD098059 treatment, but the same effects stimulated by cAMP were not. Treatment of GH3 cells with TRH for 48 h significantly increased the prolactin content in GH3 cells and decreased growth hormone content. The increase in prolactin was completely abolished by PD098059, but the decrease in growth hormone was not. These results suggest that TRH-induced MAP kinase activation is involved in prolactin synthesis and differentiation of GH3 cells, but not in prolactin secretion.     

PMA-sensitive protein kinase C is not necessary in TRH-stimulated prolactin release from female rat primary pituitary cells.

In GH3 cells and other clonal rat pituitary tumor cells, TRH has been shown to mediate its effects on prolactin release via a rise of cytosolic Ca2+ and activation of protein kinase C. In this study, we examined the role of protein kinase C in TRH-stimulated prolactin release from female rat primary pituitary cell culture. Both TRH and PMA stimulated prolactin release in a dose-dependent manner. When present together at maximal concentrations, TRH and PMA produced an effect which was slightly less than additive. Pretreatment of rat pituitary cells with 10(-6) M PMA for 24 hrs completely down-regulated protein kinase C, since such PMA-pretreated cells did not release prolactin in response to a second dose of PMA. Interestingly, protein kinase C down-regulation had no effect on TRH-induced prolactin release from rat pituitary cells. In contrast, PMA-pretreated GH3 cells did not respond to a subsequent stimulation by either PMA or TRH. Pretreatment of rat pituitary cells with TRH (10(-7) M, 24 hrs) inhibited the subsequent response to TRH, but not PMA. Forskolin, an adenylate cyclase activator, stimulated prolactin release by itself and in a synergistic manner when incubated together with TRH or PMA. The synergistic effects of forskolin on prolactin release was greater in the presence of PMA than TRH. Down-regulation of protein kinase C by PMA pretreatment abolished the synergistic effect produced by PMA and forskolin but had no effect on those generated by TRH and forskolin. sn-1,2-Dioctanylglycerol (DOG) pretreatment attenuated the subsequent response to DOG and PMA but not TRH. The effect of TRH, but not PMA, on prolactin release required the presence of extracellular Ca2+. In conclusion, the mechanism by which TRH causes prolactin release from rat primary pituitary cells is different from that of GH3 cells; the former is a protein kinase C-independent process whereas the latter is at least partially dependent upon the activation of protein kinase C.     

Effects of RHC 80267, a diglyceride lipase inhibitor, on prolactin secretion and calcium uptake in GH3 pituitary cells

The effect of the diglyceride lipase inhibitor RHC 80267 on the prolactin secretory process was examined in clonal anterior pituitary GH3 cells. This compound reduced basal prolactin secretion as well as secretion induced by TRH and phospholipase C but not that induced by phorbol myristate acetate. Although exogenous phospholipase C increased diglyceride, no increase in the products of diglyceride lipase was detected. Moreover, low doses of RHC 80267 were observed to effectively block potassium-stimulated 45calcium influx. It is unlikely that RHC 80267 inhibits prolactin release solely by inhibiting diglyceride lipase. These data suggest blockade of plasma membrane calcium channels as an alternate mechanism for the inhibitory actions of RHC 80267 on intact GH3 cells. These observations may have implications for RHC 80267 action in other cell types.     

Activation of multifunctional Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase in GH3 cells.

We report that the rat pituitary cell line GH3 contains a Ca2(+)- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase with properties characteristic of multifunctional Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaM kinase) from rat brain. The GH3 kinase exhibits the hallmark of authentic CaM kinase: conversion from Ca2(+)-dependent to Ca2(+)-independent activity following a brief initial phosphorylation in vitro. This phosphorylation occurs at a site which is similar or identical to that of the "autonomy" site of the rat brain enzyme and thus may be an autophosphorylation event. GH3 CaM kinase is phosphorylated and becomes Ca2(+)-independent in situ. Depolarization of intact cells with K+ opens calcium channels and leads to the phosphorylation of CaM kinase at the autonomy site, and the kinase becomes significantly and persistently Ca2(+)-independent. Treatment of cells with thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), which activates the phosphatidylinositol signaling pathway, also generates a Ca2(+)-independent CaM kinase in situ. The primary effect of TRH on CaM kinase activity is transient and correlates with the spike of Ca2+ released from intracellular stores and the rapid phase of prolactin release from GH3 cells. This study demonstrates that CaM kinase is able to detect and respond to both calcium that enters the cell through voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels and calcium released from internal stores via the phosphatidylinositol pathway. We find that TRH, a hormone that causes release of prolactin and was previously believed to activate primarily protein kinase C, also significantly activates CaM kinase in intact cells.     

Unresponsiveness of GH cells to cyclo(histidyl-proline), a metabolite of thyrotropin releasing hormone

Cyclo(Histidyl-Proline) is a metabolite of thyrotropin-releasing hormone. It has been suggested that this peptide plays a role in regulating prolactin secretion in GH cells. An investigation of the effect of cyclo(His-Pro) on GH cells indicated that it does not affect basal prolactin release or accumulation or the levels stimulated by TRH. cAMP levels in GH cells are elevated by TRH or VIP, but not influenced by cyclo(His-Pro). cGMP levels in GH cells are not affected by either TRH or cyclo(His-Pro). While there is specific binding of TRH to receptors in GH cells, no such receptors for cyclo(His-Pro) are detectable. It is suggested that GH cells are unresponsive to cyclo(His-Pro).     

Differential regulation of pituitary hormone secretion and gene expression by thyrotropin-releasing hormone. A role for mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling cascade in rat pituitary GH3 cells

We examined the possible involvement of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation in the secretory process and gene expression of prolactin and growth hormone. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) rapidly stimulated the secretion of both prolactin and growth hormone from GH3 cells. Secretion induced by TRH was not inhibited by 50 microM PD098059, but was completely inhibited by 1 microM wortmannin and 10 microM KN93, suggesting that MAP kinase does not mediate the secretory process. Stimulation of GH3 cells with TRH significantly increased the mRNA level of prolactin, whereas expression of growth hormone mRNA was largely attenuated. The increase in prolactin mRNA stimulated by TRH was inhibited by addition of PD098059, and the decrease in growth hormone mRNA was also inhibited by PD098059. Transfection of the cells with a pFC-MEKK vector (a constitutively active MAP kinase kinase kinase), significantly increased the synthesis of prolactin and decreased the synthesis of growth hormone. These data taken together indicate that MAP kinase mediates TRH-induced regulation of prolactin and growth hormone gene expression. Reporter gene assays showed that prolactin promoter activity was increased by TRH and was completely inhibited by addition of PD098059, but that the promoter activity of growth hormone was unchanged by TRH. These results suggest that TRH stimulates both prolactin and growth hormone secretion, but that the gene expressions of prolactin and growth hormone are differentially regulated by TRH and are mediated by different mechanisms.     

Direct evidence that burst but not sustained secretion of prolactin stimulated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone is dependent on elevation of cytoplasmic calcium

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation of prolactin secretion from rat pituitary (GH3) cells is biphasic with a secretory burst (0-2 min) at a higher rate, followed by sustained secretion (beyond 2 min) at a lower rate. Based on the effects of calcium ionophores, K+ depolarization, and diacylglycerol (or phorbol esters), it was suggested that the secretory burst is dependent on elevation of cytoplasmic free calcium concentration [( Ca2+]i) whereas sustained secretion is mediated by lipid-activated protein phosphorylation. In this study, we pretreated GH3 cells with 0.03 mM arachidonic acid to abolish thyrotropin-releasing hormone-induced elevation of [Ca2+]i (Kolesnick, R. N., and Gershengorn, M. C. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 707-713). In control cells, basal secretion was 0.7 +/- 0.2 ng/10(6) cells/min which increased to 8.3 +/- 0.8 between 0 and 2 min after TRH and remained elevated at 3.3 +/- 0.2 between 2-10 min. In cells pretreated with arachidonic acid, TRH stimulated prolactin secretion to only 2.6 +/- 0.3 ng/10(6) cells/min between 0 and 2 min and to 3.2 +/- 0.2 between 2 to 10 min; these values are not different from each other nor from the response between 2 and 10 min in control cells. K+ depolarization, which elevates [Ca2+]i even in arachidonic acid-pretreated cells but does not affect lipid metabolism, caused only a secretory burst. Bovine serum albumin, which binds free arachidonic acid and reverses arachidonic acid inhibition of TRH-induced elevation of [Ca2+]i, reversed the inhibition of the secretory burst stimulated by TRH. These studies present direct evidence that the burst of prolactin secretion stimulated by TRH is dependent on an elevation of [Ca2+]i whereas the sustained phase of secretion is independent of such elevation.     

Dexamethasone increases potassium channel messenger RNA and activity in clonal pituitary cells.

Glucocorticoid hormones are released as part of the stress response and regulate secretion by the pituitary. Since the activity of ion channels also influences secretion, we examined the effect of the glucocorticoid agonist dexamethasone on ion channel expression. K+ channel mRNA was detected in rat hypothalamus and anterior pituitary, with probes derived from the rat Kv1 gene, a member of the mammalian voltage-gated K+ channel superfamily. High levels were also detected in PRL-secreting clonal (GH3 and GH4C1) rat pituitary cells. Dexamethasone rapidly increased the steady state concentration of Kv1 mRNA in GH3 cells in a dose-dependent manner. This change in gene expression was accompanied by an increase in whole cell voltage-gated K+ current [lk(i)] with similar pharmacology to the Kv1 gene product. Our findings indicate that hormones may act directly on excitable cells to produce long term effects on electrical activity and secretion by regulating K+ channel expression.     

Voltage-dependent block of cardiac inward-rectifying potassium current by monovalent cations

The inward-rectifying K+ current (IK1) in cat ventricular myocytes, like inward-rectifying K+ currents in many other preparations, exhibited a negative slope conductance region at hyperpolarized membrane potentials that was time-dependent. This was evident as an inactivation of inward current elicited by hyperpolarizing voltage-clamp pulses resulting in a negative slope region of the steady-state current-voltage relationship at potentials negative to -140 mV. Removing extracellular Na+ prevented the development of the negative slope in this voltage region, suggesting that Na+ can block IK1 channels in a time- and voltage-dependent manner. The time and voltage dependence of Cs+-induced block of IK1 was also examined. Cs+ blocked inward current in a manner similar to that of Na+, but the former was much more potent. The fraction of current blocked by Cs+ in the presence of Na+ was reduced in a time- and voltage-dependent manner, which suggested that these blocking ions compete for a common or at least similar site of action. In the absence of Na+, inactivation of IK1 could also be induced by both Cs+ and Li+. However, Li+ was less potent than Na+ in this respect. Calculation of the voltage sensitivity of current block by each of these ions suggests that the mechanism of block by each is similar.     

Ca2(+)-independent secretory mechanism of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) involves protein kinase C in rat pituitary cells

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulates biphasic prolactin (PRL) secretion from rat pituitary GH3 cells. The pretreatment of cells with EGTA (100 microM) plus arachidonic acid (15 microM), a condition which decreased TRH-responsive intracellular Ca2+ pools, eliminated the activity of TRH on burst PRL secretion (2 min) but did not alter that on sustained PRL secretion (30 min). However, the treatment of cells with EGTA, arachidonic acid and H-7 (300 microM), a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), almost completely suppressed the activity of TRH for sustained PRL secretion. In cells down-modulated for PKC, TRH abolished this Ca2(+)-independent sustained PRL secretion. These results suggest that TRH acts through a separate, Ca2(+)-independent secretory mechanism, besides by modulating the Ca2(+)-dependent mechanism and that PKC is involved in this Ca2(+)-independent secretory pathway.     

Thyroliberin action in pituitary cells is not inhibited by pertussis toxin.

The effects of pertussis toxin on the responses of rat pituitary-tumour (GH) cells to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (thyroliberin, TRH) were examined. Treatment of cells with pertussis toxin did not alter the affinity or concentration of TRH receptors, or the sensitivity of the TRH receptor to inhibition by guanine nucleotides. TRH caused an increase in low-Km GTPase activity in membrane-containing fractions from both control and pertussis-toxin-treated cells. TRH stimulation of inositol phosphate formation was insensitive to pertussis toxin. TRH caused a biphasic increase in the concentrations of cytosolic free Ca2+ as monitored by intracellularly trapped Quin 2, and this increase was the same in control and toxin-treated cultures. The toxin did not alter the increase in prolactin and growth-hormone (somatotropin) release stimulated by TRH or shift the TRH dose-response curve, and it did not affect the TRH-induced rise in prolactin synthesis measured over 24 h. However, pertussis toxin did block the ability of somatostatin and muscarinic agonists to inhibit prolactin and growth-hormone secretion stimulated by vasoactive intestinal peptide when analysed under the same conditions as those in which the TRH system was unaffected. These data indicate that the guanine nucleotide effects on TRH binding and activity are not mediated by Ni, but possibly by another member of the family of guanine-nucleotide-dependent regulatory proteins.     

Functional activity of rat adenohypophysis cells in a primary monolayer culture and the effect of several regulators on it]

Some peculiarities of labeled growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PL) secretion in the 5-day monolayer culture of the rat adenohypophysis was studied. The hormones from the culture medium were obtained by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel. Natrium-dibutyril of cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate and theophylline, stimulated the GH and PL secretion. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) increased the incorporation of 14C-1-leucine into the cell protein, stimulated PL secretion, but did not act on the GH release. Somatostatin completely abolished the GH secretion mediated by theophyllin, but not that of PL. Some peculiarities in the formation of labeled GH and PL pool in the cells and secretion of these hormones into the culture medium are discussed.     

Changes in membrane cholesterol of pituitary tumor (GH3) cells regulate the activity of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels

The effects of changes in membrane cholesterol on ion currents were investigated in pituitary GH3 cells. Depletion of membrane cholesterol by exposing cells to methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MbetaCD), an oligosaccharide, resulted in an increase in the density of Ca2+-activated K+ current (IK(Ca)). However, no significant change in IK(Ca) density was demonstrated in GH3 cells treated with a mixture of MbetaCD and cholesterol. Cholesterol depletion with MbetaCD (1.5 mg/ml) slightly suppressed the density of voltage-dependent L-type Ca2+ current. In inside-out patches recorded from MbetaCD-treated cells, the activity of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BK(Ca)) channels was enhanced with no change in single-channel conductance. In MbetaCD-treated cells, voltage-sensitivity of BK(Ca) channels was increased; however, no change in Ca2+-sensitivity could be demonstrated. A negative correlation between adjacent closed and open times in BK(Ca) channels was observed in MbetaCD-treated cells. In inside-out patches from MbetaCD-treated cells, dexamethasone (30 microM) applied to the intracellular surface did not increase BK(Ca)-channel activity, although caffeic acid phenethyl ester and cilostazol still opened its probability effectively. However, no modification in the activity of ATP-sensitive K+ channels could be seen in MbetaCD-treated cells. Current-clamp recordings demonstrated that the cholesterol depletion maneuver with MbetaCD reduced the firing of action potentials. Therefore, the increase in BK(Ca)-channel activity induced by membrane depletion may influence the functional activities of neurons or neuroendocrine cells if similar results occur in vivo.     

Bombesin stimulates prolactin secretion from cultured rat pituitary tumour cells (GH4C1) via activation of phospholipase C

Bombesin (BBS) stimulated prolactin (PRL) secretion from monolayer cultures of rat pituitary tumour cells (GH4C1) in a dose-dependent manner with half maximal and maximal effect at 2 nM and 100 nM, respectively. No additional stimulatory effect on PRL secretion was seen when BBS was combined with thyroliberin (TRH) used in concentrations known to give maximal effects, while the effects of BBS and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) were additive. Using a parafusion system, BBS (1 microM) was found to increase PRL secretion within 4 s and the secretion profiles elicited by BBS and TRH (1 microM) were similar. Both BBS and TRH increased inositoltrisphosphate (IP3) as well as inositolbisphosphate (IP2) formation within 2 s. BBS also induced the same biphasic changes in the electrical membrane properties of GH4C1 cells as TRH, and both peptides caused a rapid and sustained increase in intracellular [Ca2+]. These results suggest that BBS stimulates PRL secretion from the GH4C1 cells via a mechanism involving the immediate formation of IP3 thus resembling the action of TRH.     

Thyroliberin receptor binding and adenylyl cyclase activation in cultured prolactin-producing rat pituitary tumor cells (GH cells)

A thyroliberin (TRH)-responsive particulate bound adenylyl cyclase is present in two rat anterior pituitary tumor cell strains (GH4C1 and GH3) which synthesize and secrete prolactin. At a given Mg2+ concentration, ATP and the guanyl nucleotides GTP and guanyl 5'-yl-imidodiphosphate (GMP-P(NH)P) caused a dose-dependent increase in adenylyl cyclase activity. The maximum response to thyroliberin occurred with ATP and GTP at concentrations above 0.30 mM and 2 microM, respectively. The maximal stimulatory effect of thyroliberin on adenylyl cyclase activity was 2-fold in the presence of GTP. GMP-P(NH)P increased the basal enzyme activity 4- to 10-fold over and above that of equimolar concentrations of GTP but supported poorly the TRH-induced response. Mg2+ caused a dose-dependent increase in the basal enzyme activity and reduced TRH and fluoride-induced responses. Also, Mn2+ and Co2+ stimulated the basal adenylyl cyclase activity while Zn2+, Ca2+, and Cu2+ inhibited the enzyme, and neither cations supported the TRH response. Half-maximal stimulation of the adenylyl cyclase by TRH and half-maximum binding of [3H]TRH to membranes at 35 degrees C were 102 and 56 nM, respectively. Pretreatment with TRH decreased the apparent Vmax of the enzyme and the maximal binding of [3H]TRH. Of 6 TRH analogs tested, only one was able to displace [3H]TRH from its receptor and to increase the adenylyl cyclase activity. We suggest that adenylyl cyclase activation is an early event in the stimulus secretion coupling between TRH and prolactin-producing GH cells.     

Effectors of ATP-sensitive K+ channels inhibit the regulatory effects of somatostatin and GH-releasing factor on growth hormone secretion.

Somatostatin inhibition of growth hormone (GH) secretion from adenohypophysis cells in culture was antagonized by the antidiabetic sulfonylurea glipizide (K0.5 = 10 +/- 5 nM). Although all cells that hyperpolarize with somatostatin have ATP-sensitive K+ channels, the antagonistic actions of the hormone and of the antidiabetic drug are due to effects on different types of K+ channels. Diazoxide, an opener of ATP-sensitive K+ channels, abolished the increase of intracellular Ca2+ provoked by growth hormone releasing factor (GRF) and induced inhibition of GRF stimulated GH secretion (K0.5 = 138 microM). This inhibition by diazoxide was largely suppressed by glipizide which blocked the ATP-sensitive K+ channels opened by diazoxide. In summary, hormonal activation of GH secretion is inhibited by openers of ATP-sensitive K+ channels, while hormonal inhibition of GH secretion is suppressed by blockers of ATP-sensitive K+ channels.     

Osmotic regulation of prolactin secretion. Possible role of chloride

The role of osmotic pressure in the exocytosis of prolactin from rat pituitary tumor (GH) cells in culture was investigated. Reducing the osmotic strength of the medium from 300 mosm to 150 mosm by removal of NaCl did not alter basal secretion of prolactin but inhibited secretion stimulated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and forskolin. Both basal and stimulated secretion of prolactin were inhibited by increasing the osmotic strength of the medium with NaCl (IC50 at approximately 500 mosm). The stimulated release of hormone from GH-cells was independent of sodium and unaffected by replacement of sodium ion with tetramethylammonium or choline, or by addition of 500 nM tetrodotoxin. Secretagogue-stimulated release was, however, dependent upon chloride. Exchange of medium chloride with benzoate or isethionate significantly inhibited the stimulated release of prolactin (IC50 at approximately 60 mM exchange) regardless of the secretagogue utilized (phorbol ester, forskolin, depolarization plus BAY K8644, or TRH). Exchange of medium chloride with either isethionate or benzoate reduced cell volume by 10% compared to 60% for sucrose and mannitol, suggesting that inhibition of secretion by isethionate exchange was not a result of increased intracellular osmotic pressure. Complete exchange of medium chloride with isethionate did not alter equilibrium [3H]methyl-TRH binding, resting internal [Ca2+], or the [Ca2+]i response to depolarization and TRH as measured with intracellularly trapped Fura 2. Chloride removal did not change resting internal pH and recovery from an acid load as measured by the intracellular pH-sensitive dye 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein. The stimulated secretion of prolactin was also inhibited by exchange of chloride with isethionate in normal pituitary cells in primary culture and the ability of normal cells to respond to the dopamine agonist bromocryptine was not affected by the exchange. These results suggest that exocytosis of prolactin from GH-cells and normal pituitary cells in culture is an osmotically driven process that is chloride-dependent. Stimulated release is more chloride-dependent than constitutive release. The inhibitory effect of isethionate substitution occurs after signal transduction and is distinct from the site of dopamine inhibition of prolactin release.